Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T02:42:32.609Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Impact of acid mine drainage from Tinoca Mine on the Abrilongo dam (southeast Portugal)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2018

C. Morais ,
L. Rosado ,
J. Mirão ,
A. P. Pinto ,
P. Nogueira  and
A. E. Candeias
C. Morais
Affiliation:
Evora Chemistry Centre and University of Évora, Chemistry Department, Évora, Portugal
L. Rosado
Affiliation:
Evora Chemistry Centre and University of Évora, Chemistry Department, Évora, Portugal
J. Mirão
Affiliation:
Evora Geophysics Centre and University of Évora, Geosciences Department, Évora, Portugal
A. P. Pinto
Affiliation:
Mediterranean and Agricultural Sciences Institute, University of Évora, Évora, Portugal
P. Nogueira
Affiliation:
Oporto University Geology Centre and University of Evora Geosciences Department, Évora, Portugal
A. E. Candeias
Affiliation:
Evora Chemistry Centre and University of Évora, Chemistry Department, Évora, Portugal
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This work presents a geochemical study conducted on the abandoned Tinoca Copper mine (southeast Portugal) to evaluate the potential hazard in surrounding areas particularly the effect on the Abrilongo River Dam which receivesthe acid waters from the mine watershed. The characterization of the area was performed over a period of 3 y and involved the study of waters, sediments and mine wastes. A sequential extraction methodology was conducted on the sediments and mine wastes and five elements were selected (Cu, Fe, Zn, Cd and Pb). The statistical and spatial analysis allowed the inference of the affinities between the chemical elements and specific mineralogical phases and to characterize chemical behaviour such as mobility and bioavailability. The results show that the distance to the source (mine-waste deposit), the point of zero charge, and the dynamics of the system are factors that control the behaviour of the elementss tudied. The acid drainage is characterized by an average pH of 2.5 and concentrationsof copper 20 timesgreater than the legal limit for irrigation waters.

Keywords

mine drainagegeochemistrysequential extractionTinoca minePortugal
Type
Research Article
Information
Mineralogical Magazine , Volume 72 , Issue 1 , February 2008 , pp. 467 - 472
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Dold, B. (2003) Speciation of the most soluble phases in a sequential extraction procedure adapted for geochemical studies of copper sulphide mine waste. Journal Geochemical Exploration, 80, 55–68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fernandez-Turiel, J.L., Aceòolaza P., Medina, M.E., Llorens, J.F. and Sardi F. (2001) Assessment of a smelter impact area using surface soils and plants. Environmental Geochemical Health, 23, 65–78.Google Scholar
Fonseca, E.C. and Ferreira da Silva, E. (1998) Application of selective extraction techniques in metal bearing phase identification: a South European case study. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 61, 203–212.Google Scholar
Leinz, R.W., Sutley, S.J., Desborough, G.A. and Briggs, P.H. (2000) An investigation of the partitioning of metals in mine wastes using sequential extractions. In Proceeding of the fifth International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage, Denver, Colorado, USA.Google Scholar
Noh, J.S. and Schwarz, J.A. (1989) Estimation of the point of zero charge of simple oxides by mass titration. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 130, 157–164.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Selim, H.M. and Sparks, D.L. (2001) Heavy Metals Release in Soils. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, USA, 249 pp.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vairinho, M. and Fonseca, C. (1989) Estudo químico e mineralógico do chapéu de ferro da mineralização sulfüretada da Tinoca: Alto-Alentejo, Portugal — determinacao das fases-suporte do Cu, Zn e Pb por extraccao quimica selectiva sequencial. Estudos, Notas e Trabalhos — Serviqo de Fomento Mineiro, 31, 3–9.Google Scholar
Yong, R.N., Bentley, S.P., Harris, C. and Yacob, W.Z.W. (1999) Selective sequential extraction analysis (SEE) on estuarine alluvium soils. Geoenvironmental Engineering, 118–126.Google Scholar